Dionne Warwick is speaking out on social media following the death of Cissy Houston, the Grammy-winning singer who was aunt to the “That’s What Friends Are For” vocalist and mother to Whitney Houston.
On Tuesday (Oct. 8) — one day after Cissy’s death at age 91 — Warwick wrote on X that she is “so deeply saddened” by the passing of her family member. “However, knowing that my Aunt Cissy died peacefully and that she is in a much better place, is a consolation and comfort to me,” she continued.
“I have seen your messages of condolences,” Warwick added. “On behalf of my family, thank you. ❤️”
Cissy’s passing was confirmed Monday (Oct. 7) by her daughter-in-law Pat Houston, who shared that her mother-in-law had died that morning in her New Jersey home while in hospice for Alzheimer’s disease. “Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness,” Pat told the Associated Press. “We lost the matriarch of our family. Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives.”
“A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry and community,” Pat added at the time. “Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts.”
In addition to being Warwick’s aunt, Cissy also at times served as the “Then Came You” artist’s backup singer in the group the Sweet Inspirations, which Cissy formed with Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warrick. The trio also sang backup for Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, The Drifters and more.
In 2022, Warwick — who is part of this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class for musical excellence — opened up about her relationship with Cissy. “I called her Aunt Cissy growing up,” she told People at the time. “Because we were so close in age, I always looked at her as an older sister … Cissy had an incredible voice and that transferred to her little baby, Whitney. Watching Whitney was like seeing Cissy grow up again.”
See Warwick’s tweet below.
